Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
An Ohio native, Nate holds an undergraduate degree in political science and economics and a master’s degree in public service management from DePaul University in Chicago. He also completed his doctoral studies (ABD) in political science at Loyola University, also in Chicago.
Nate joined the Commonwealth Foundation in 2005. Now as Chief Policy Officer , he provides strategic leadership as well as operational oversight spanning policy analysis, government relations, marketing, and communications.
Nate has researched and written extensively on public policy issues including the state budget, public sector labor reform, government spending and taxes, liquor privatization, education, and economic development. Under Nate’s policy leadership, the Commonwealth Foundation’s work on public sector pension law helped drive the bipartisan pension reform of 2017, heralded by the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post as an example for other states to follow.
Nate has testified numerous times before state legislative committees and is often called upon by legislators and members of the media to provide expertise. He is a frequent commentator on both television and radio, and his writings have appeared across the state and nationally in outlets including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Patriot-News, and Weekly Standard.
Nate’s favorite rock song and personal motto are both “Don’t Stop Believin.”
Education
Abandoning The SAT – Fraud or Folly?
Interesting discussion about universities ending use of the SAT at Wake Forest (presumably applicable to the ACT – which I took, and scored crazy high on) at Minding the…
Media
Read More: Abandoning The SAT – Fraud or Folly?Government Accountability
Are Pennsylvania and Iraq going in opposite directions?
Jonathan Jenkins, a Pennsylvania resident serving in Iraq, ask “Are Pennsylvania and Iraq going in opposite directions?” He offers the perspective the Iraq is improving, while Pennsylvania is declining,…
Media
Read More: Are Pennsylvania and Iraq going in opposite directions?Regulation
Tenant unlikely for $250 million airport
A LBFC study on the Hazleton area airport proposal finds that prospect of attracting a major client is remote (FedEx and DHL said “heck no”, while UPS said “very…
Media
Read More: Tenant unlikely for $250 million airportHealth Care
Voters Send Mixed Messages on Health Care
Michael Tanner on polls about health care and the divergent proposals , concluding, “as November approaches, voters will reach a fork in the road, and as Yogi Berra says,…
Media
Read More: Voters Send Mixed Messages on Health CareEducation
Popping the Tuition Bubble
Interesting article in The American about the idea of financing higher education by promising a set portion of future earnings for loans. The idea of “human capital contracts” was…
Media
Read More: Popping the Tuition Bubble
Is the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission a secret cult?
Peter Samuel of Toll Roads News seems to think so, as he struggles in his quest to get information about the Commission, and why Governor Rendell tolerates people he…
Media
Read More: Is the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission a secret cult?Taxes & Economy
How late will the budget be this year?
With the debate over furloughs heating up (also see here), House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans announced that the House will begin debating the budget the week of…
Media
Read More: How late will the budget be this year?Regulation
Budget: WAMs in, Rainy Day Fund to be Raided
The House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment that increases the Governor’s proposed budget by $148 million (which, according to Evans’ news release, isn’t much money). This raises the…
Media
Read More: Budget: WAMs in, Rainy Day Fund to be RaidedTaxes & Economy
$4 Gasbags
Wall Street Journal looks at the absurdity of Congress’ posturing to “do something” about high gas prices – except allow increased US production of gasoline. “Pain at the Pump”…
Media
Read More: $4 GasbagsRegulation
Did slots hurt lottery collections?
A new report by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee find that slots gambling has hurt lottery revenue. Not only has lottery revenue and participation seen almost no growth…
Media
Read More: Did slots hurt lottery collections?
Video: Turnpike Lease Q&A
Video from yesterday’s luncheon on leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike is below (or click here) For additional information, our Policy Brief on the Turnpike lease is here (it…
Media
Read More: Video: Turnpike Lease Q&AEducation
Putting Children Last
The Wall Street Journal blasts efforts by Democrats—coerced by the teacher’s unions—to end the DC Opportunity Scholarship program, a program which saves kids from failing schools and…
Media
Read More: Putting Children LastTaxes & Economy
Movin’ Out/Migration Resource and Data
Here are some resource and links related to my commentary on interstate migration: Census Data and migration report United Van Lines Data and…
Media
Read More: Movin’ Out/Migration Resource and DataTaxes & Economy
Movin’ Out
With all due respect to Billy Joel’s "Allentown," the tune which best describes Pennsylvania today would likely be "Movin' Out." For years, Pennsylvania has seen residents (particularly younger ones) move…
Commentary
Read More: Movin’ OutRegulation
Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?
John Micek thinks the Senate Dems plan to pass a smoking ban that includes everything the conference committee bill did, plus exemptions so Scranton and Pittsburgh could pass their own…
Media
Read More: Will MacGyver rescue the smoking ban?Public Union Democracy
Right to Work states have higher growth
The Union Label blog looks at economic growth differences between right to work and forced unionism state.
Media
Read More: Right to Work states have higher growth
Tolling I-80 not a matter of “fairness”
A reader asked for a response to comments Sen. Sean Logan has been making about Turnpike lease revenue and the need to toll I-80 for “fairness”. (See Logan’s Morning…
Media
Read More: Tolling I-80 not a matter of “fairness”Taxes & Economy
Is the minimum wage behind higher unemployment?
Mark Perry makes the case that the recent uptick in unemployment in the US is partially due to the increase in the federal minimum wage (and the pending increase…
Media
Read More: Is the minimum wage behind higher unemployment?Regulation
The Nanny State Mentality
Anyone who has observed politics for long would see that too many politicians believe nothing positive would happen unless they pass a law requiring it. They think that the American…
Commentary
Read More: The Nanny State MentalityGovernment Accountability
Legislators controlling redistricting are like alcoholics tending bar
John Baer’s latest column blasts legislators who are killing reform – in particular redistricting – for their own self-interest: And who can forget Speaker Emeritus John Perzel winning…
Media
Read More: Legislators controlling redistricting are like alcoholics tending bar
No toll limit
My letter to the editor in the Patriot News on Turnpike tolls under the lease vs. under Act 44: Charles Thompson’s May 25 article, “For drivers, it’s just…
Media
Read More: No toll limit